News Centre

04/04/19

JD SPORTS ACQUIRES MEN’S CLOTHING BRAND PRETTY GREEN SECURING 67 JOBS

Pretty Green, the boutique men’s clothing brand, has been sold to JD Sports following the appointment of Joint Administrators Nicholas O’Reilly and Simon Thomas from retail restructuring specialists Moorfields Advisory, on 28 March 2019.

A third of SMEs unaware of National Living Wage start date

The new National Living Wage (NLW) will become a legal requirement for employers from 1 April 2016, but despite the closeness of the deadline, a third of small and medium businesses in the UK said they were unaware of the date on which the changes are to be implemented.

What are the most dangerous ‘hidden’ risks faced by today’s businesses?

Most businesses have cover and contingency plans in place for events such as fires and the impact of crime. Cyber-crime in particular has grown from a minor worry affecting only certain types of businesses to a genuine threat to businesses of all shapes and sizes.

Was the Budget good news for Britain’s SMEs?

In the run up to the spring Budget a number of lobby groups and trade associations were calling on Chancellor George Osborne to introduce a range of measures to help small and medium businesses. So with the Budget speech delivered, how have SMEs in the UK fared?

Food and drink sector faces a generational ‘time bomb’

Industry body the National Skills Academy for Food and Drink has warned that the food and drink sector is facing a serious image crisis, with young people ignoring the sector when it came to choosing careers.

Will a third of UK businesses be hacked in the next 12 months?

Campaign to reform business rates picks up steam

The Government is being urged to act on the thorny issue of business rates. Five of the UK’s biggest industry lobby groups in the British Retail Consortium, British Council of Shopping Centres, Association of Convenience Stores, Federation of Small Businesses, and British Property Federation have joined forces to write to the Treasury. The group says that, more than two years after the Government said it would review the tax, it is now time to act.

Borrowing is up but a third of businesses have no cover in place

More small businesses are applying and being approved for external finance, a new study claims. According to the SME Finance Monitor, carried out by research consultancy BDRC Continental, 70% of SMEs polled were accessing loans, overdrafts and other types of finance. This is up from 65% at the same time last year.

UK workers are among the least engaged in the world

London remains the most expensive city to accommodate an employee

The Live/Work Index, compiled by estate agent Savills, looks at the combined costs of both residential and office rental space. The survey placed the UK capital at the top of the list ahead of New York, and at more than double the cost of cities such as Sydney, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Challanging times ahead for care homes?

Many care operators are already struggling with constant pressure to improve public sector services and manage expectations. The new National Living Wage creates another challenge for operators struggling to meet standard care regulations without further funding.